Electrical fused cutout



June 20, 1950 J. L lNDE ETAL ELECTRICAL FusEn cu'rouT 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Oct. 23, 1946 L. J. LINDE T'AL ELECTRICAL FUSED CUTOUT June 20,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed C'rt. 23, 1946 IN VEN TORS BY QM MM'V-shaped groove 4 I member having a circular body flange 33 adapted toengage and overlap the end of the insulator and to overlap the walls ofthe socket 32; andthe body flange 33 supports a depending anchoringformation 34, which may consist of a cylindrical body having a pair ofside ribs 135 forjpreventing opening, into which the cable of a fuseunit may be wedged.

Two such openings are provided by the clip, one on each side of the armI4, so that two fuse units may be simultaneously mounted, or one may beused to support a new fuse before the old fuse is ,taken out, when achange in fuse capacity is made, without breaking the circuit.

The clip 54 may be supported on the head 53 by means of a metal band 58,which extends completely around the clip, and around the head, to bothof .which it is secured by dipping the assembly in solder. The band 53is of sufficient strength 4 to exert a wedging and clamping action onthe cured by driving it on endwise over the U-shaped yoke of the clip 55and over the head, the solder rotation and having an annular endribSrfon anchoring the body axially in a packing of ce'- ment 3l, whichiills the socket 32 and anchors the casting I4 to the'insulator I3.

'Ihe body flange 33 supports an upwardly'extending partially circularenlargement 38, which has sufficient body to be provided with an'aperture 39 for receiving av connector bolt 40. The side of theenlargement 38 is preferably formed with a extending diametricallyacross the bolt aperture 39 and adapted to receive wires of differentsizes.

The screw bolt-4|) has a threaded shankand ai extensions 45, whichextend axially with Arespect to the hole 44, and are partiallycylindrical forv engaging the wire that passes through the'bore 44. Theextensions 45 may be reinforced by a rib 46 extending the full length ofthe head 43, with its extensions 45.

The enlargement 38 may have plane sides, but is preferably formed with`a .partiallyspherical socket 48 surrounding the bore 35jfor receivingthe shank of the screw bolt 42 and part of the head 43. 1

The socket 48 has suitable depth, proportioned with respect totheelevation of the V-shaped groove 4 I, so that a wire passing through thebore 44 and clamped against the cylindrical extensions 45 of the screwbolt is engaged on` the opposite side by the V-shaped groove 4I.

A nut 49 on shank 42 serves to clamp the nozzle wire in the terminalconnector.

The arm I4 extends outwardly from the enlargement 38, and may consist ofa bottom ilange 50 and a reinforcing rib 5I. flange 5B and thereinforcing rib 5I maytaper toward a neck 52 at the outer end of the armI4,

, which is provided with aflat head 53 of substantially rectangularshape.

neck 52, where the -clip has a `diagonallyoutwardly curved portion 55,terminating in a cylindrical bead 56.

The reinforcing rib 5I terminates short of thez head 53 so as toprevent'it from interfering with the buttons of the fuse unit. .The armI4 curves outwardly at its juncture with the head 53,`for'm ing adiagonal wall 5l opposite the diagonal portion 55 of the clipd, whichprovides'a V-shaped.;V

` also supports a pair of depending housing anges being employed merelyto hold it in place.

Thus the upper arm is rigidly secured to the top of the insulator I3,from which it projects at substantially-right angles to hold the upperend of the fuse unit I5, further to be described.

The lower movable arm I5 is preferably pivotally'supported by means ofscrew bolt 59 upon a casting E0. This casting may have a substantiallycylindrical anchoring body 6I,which preferably has a cylindrical bore E2for housing a helical spring 53. The end of the cylindrical body 6Ipreferably has a radially extending flange 64 for covering the cement65, which secures the body in the socket 32 and overlaps the end of theinsulator I3. The exterior of the cylindrical body 6I may be .providedwith corrugations 56 or any other suitable anchoring formation. Thecasting 65 6l, B8, which extend downwardly far enough to enclose thelever I5 and spring 53 in both of its positions.

.'Atthe rear side of the casting 6I! the housing iianges may bethickened at 69 and spaced from each other by a slot I0 of suicientthickness to receive the pivotally mounted end 'II of the lever I5. Theslot 'I5 is enclosed by a rear curved wall 'I2 extending above, behind,and below the end 'II of the lever I5.

The ilanges at the slot l0 are provided with -aligned bores forreceiving the screw bolt 59,

upon which the lever is pivoted. The casting 5B also has a downwardlyand rearwardly extending circular enlargement 13, which has a downwardlyand `rearwardly extending V-shaped groove like the groove 4I, previouslydescribed, for providing a clamping surface opposed to a connector bolt14, like the connector bolt 4U, previously described.

lThisterminal connector may in all ways be similar in yconstruction tothe one described at the top of ther device on the arm I4, and it isprovided with a similar nut and spring washer. The

hole in the bolt in this case preferably extends downwardly, andrearwardly in the direction in which `the terminal wire is most likelyto extend.

-The movable lever or arm I5 may consist of a cylindrical rod, which isprovided at its rear end 'II with a iiattened portion having an apertureserving as a bearing for the screw bolt 59, on which it is pivotallymounted.

At its opposite end the rod may be flattened in a plane transverse tothe end 4l, having a Ilat portion '15, which may be formed into a head,like the head 53 previously described, so that it may be provided with aspring clip 54 and a metal band 58 substantially as described withrespect to the upper arm I4.

In order to make the fuse units I6 of shorter :a'gsi 22498 length and?to conserve material the arrn I5 has arl obtuse bend at the point 16 sothatv the arm has a horizontallyA extending portionv 11- and' adiagonally and upwardly extending pcrtion 18. This brings the head andclip 14 into a position below the head on the upper arm I5, butextending forwardly of the head on the upper arm I4.

The tapered slots 19, 8D into which the cables of the fuse unit I6' aredrawn both extend in such al direction that the pull exerted on thecable tends to pull the cable into the tapered slots 19, 8U. The' arm-I5 is preferably spring pressed downwardly by means of a helical spring63, the structure of which is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

This springhas a helical portion 8 I, which may extend whenV expanded afull: length of the bore 6`2`, and may also project downwardly betweenthe housing flanges 61, asshown in Fig. 4. The upper end of this springis bent laterally, and the lat-y erally'bent portion 82` extends overto' the inner wall of the spring, where it has' a downwardly extendingleg 83. Y

This leg extends downwardly the full lengthl of the helical spring 8|and projects beyond it, hav-- ing a U-shapedformation' 84 of sufiicientlength to receive the end portion 1I of lever I5, which is located inthe U-shaped bight 84 below the helical portion 8|.

The bight SL44 hasV anupwardly extending leg I site innerwall ofthehelical coil. The length of the leg 85 is such that it guides the leverportion y 1I throughout its full range of movement.

In or'der that the U-shaped end 811v may advantageously engage the leverI5 it its bent rearwardly at 8S with an obtuse angle. The lever portion1I is also preferably provided with anl upwardly'extending lu'g` 81',having an abrupt shoulder 88 on the rear sidev and a sloping shoulder'88 on' the front side. The lug 81, by means' of its abrupt shoulder 8B",prevents the coils of spring 63- from sliding downwardly on the leverVI5 when itis inthe positionl of Fig. 4'; that is, the dotted linepositionV of Fig. l. y

The housing flanges 61 are also preferably provided with a pair ofinwardly extending stop llanges' 98', QI, these being' preferablystaggered and located toenga'ge underneath the lowermost helical coils.`of the springs 83T' on' ea'chside, when thev spring isexpanded to itsmaximum position.

The helical spr-ing 63 is placed under a predeterminedinitialcomp'ress'ion so that it-is confined between the' end wallE 92ofl'the cylindrical bore d2 and the stoplugs 8U', 9I. The spring may beinserted in the'rbore 62 by threading it'` on' the lugs 99, STI while'.grasping the b'iglitk 8'@ with a suitable tool.

The", fuse unitrv ITE may consist of a tube of insulatingmateri'alf,such asiiber-` board; which is provided at! each end with aninsulatingplug g3 of suitable'insulating materiali, suoli as rubber, havinganapertureI for passing the cables 94, 95; u

The plugs S3, when forced' into the tube` 95, grip'the cables 94' andhold the tubein-predetermined position on the' cable assembly. The twoinner ends of the cables 9'4, 9'5A are joined to a fusibleme'tal link,preferably by fusing the link to the cable in each case; andl the linkis the elelonger'in'- its axialA dimension, dueto the' InodeI` ofitsformatio'n. The rloop may' be the point at which two strands of thecable are folded back upon each other, the strands being twistedtogetlier' to form the main cable bodies 94, 95, and each cable beingprovided with a button 98, IDD adjacent each loop.

The buttons 99, IDD may consist of metal discs or insulating liberboard, each being provided with an aperture large enough to pass thecable, but not large enough to pass the loops 91, 98. Thus the buttons99, IBO serve as thrust members for engaging the upper side of the upperarm I4 and the lower side of the lower lever I5.

rEhe loops serve to be engaged by a headed pin on a switch actuatingpole or other operatingtool.

rThe fuse may be removed by engaging the pin and operating pole in theupper loop 91 and pushing upwardly and backwardly on the p'ole to drawthe cable 94 out of the groove 19 or' 8U in which it is wedged on theupper arm. Once the button and cable have cleared the clip 54 on theupper arm, the spring 63, which actuates the lower arm I5, may bepermitted to pull the lower arm I5 downwardly, the fuse unit I6following it until the arm' I5 reaches the point of engagement with theinner surface of the bight 84 of the spring e3, which serves as a stopsurface.

The lugs Se', BI on` 'the tubular part of the casting Eli serve toprevent the spring from coming out of its socket 82, and hold the" leverI5 in the lower dotted line position. When a fuse is to be inserted, ithangs from an operating pole by means of the' pin on' the pole engagingin the upper loop S1; and with the fuse hanging, the pole is somanipulated that the lower cable 95 is inserted in one of the slots 19or 30 of the lower arm I5.

This can be done without interference on the part of the upper arm I4because of its shortness. Once the cable S5 has its button |08 engagedwith the lower surface of the arm I5, the operator may pull upwardly onthe cable by means of the upper loop untilV the arm' l5 reaches itsuppermost position slightly beyond that shown in lT'ig. l in full lines.Then the loop 91 may be so manipulated that the cable da passes into agroove 1S or 8E on the upper arm it; and thereafter the arms may bepermitted to support and exert a pull on the fuse unit l.

The spring pressure on the lower arm tends to pull the fuse unitdownwardly and forwardly in such manner as topull it further into thegrooves on both arms, and to maintain a constantly good electricalContact. l r`lheoperationof the fused cut-out is as follows: Wl'en thecurrent pass-ing through the fuse exceeds a,- predetermined amount, thefuse link is melted, separating the cable portions 9d, 95, which areunder tension. The pull between the arms IGA, l5 draws thecable portions9, with their plugs, out of the tube 9%, further separatling the ends ofthe `cable and aiding in the extinguishrnent of the are, which occursinside the tube Q6, where it further tends to be smoothered andextinguished by the confined combustion gases and bythe gases drivingthe cable ends out of both ends of the tube.

The cables then hang loosely from the two arms, but the lower cableconceivably drop out of the lower arm on some occasions. They areremoved by means of the usual switch operating' stick, and a new fusemay be inserted as stated above.

During' the operation of cut-out fuse it should be noted that the spring63places a downward pressure on the arm I5, urging it apart from the armI4 at al1 times. When the arm I5 is released by the fuse unit I6, itmoves downward with considerable force and is stopped by the yoke orbight 84 of the spring 63,L which in turn pulls downward on the upperend of the spring, compressing the spring against the lugs 90 and SI toabsorb the shock and stop the movement of the arm I5.

Thus the spring 63 is used not only to urge the arm I5 into position toplace a tension on the fuse unit, but also to absorb the shock of themovement of the arm' I5 when a fuse is blown. This reduces the shocksand breakage of insulators and tends to prevent damage to the cement, bymeans of which the lower casting is secured to the insulator.

Another feature of the fused cut-out is that the two grooves 19, 80provided in each arm permit an operator to place a fuse of differentcapacity in circuit before taking the other fuse out, thus changing thefuse capacity without breaking the circuit.

It will thus be observed that we have invented an improved fused cut-outwhich is simple in structure, but which provides a safe and certainconnection between the fuse unit land the cutout device, which is easyto re-fuse and easily permits changing of a fuse capacity withoutbreaking the circuit.

The structure of our fused cut-out is simple and economical tomanufacture, and it is capable of being used for a long period of timewithout breakage or necessity for repair. The spring, which urges thearms apart, also absorbs the shock incident to the moving of the movablearm when the fuse is blown, thus taking much strain off the castings,cemented joints, and porcelain insulator, and contributing to theeffective life of the fuse.

While we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and we do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of all changeswithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a fused cut-out, the combination of a supporting insulator with apair of fuse supporting arms, one of said arms being rigidly mounted -onsaid insulator, and the other of said arms being pivotally mounted, saidarms being provided with means at their ends for removable attachment ofa f-use unit under tension, and resilient means for urging the pivotallymounted arm away from the rigidly mounted arm, said resilient means alsohaving an element engaging the outer side of the pivotally mounted armto absorb the shock of movement of said arm upon blowing of the fuse,said resilient means being housed in the lower end of said insulator,and compris-ing a helical spring reacting against the insulator and saidpivotally mounted lever, and having an extension from its end oppositeto the lever carrying said element engaging the opposite side of thearm.

2. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a springpressed lever assembly, comprising a metal housing carried by theinsulator, a, fuse supporting arm pivotally mounted on said housing, ahelical spring located in said housing and placed under a predeterminedcom- 8` pression by engagement with shoulders at each end, one end ofthe spring engaging the lever and the other end of the spring having anaxial extension engaging on the opposite side of the lever.

3. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a springpressed lever assembly, .comprising a metal housing carried by theinsulator, a fuse supporting arm pivotally mounted on said housing, ahelical spring located in said housing and placed under a predeterminedcompression by engagement with shoulders at each end, one end of thespring engaging the lever and the other end of the spring having anaxial extension engaging on the opposite side of the lever, said axialextension being of substantially U shape and embracing both sides of thelever and extending into said helical spring, whereby the spring urgesthe lever in one direction to tension a switch unit, and when moved tothe limit of its movement in that direction the lever engages the Ushaped portion to absorb shock.

4. In a fused :cut-out, the combination of an insulator with means forsupporting the insulator from a cross arm carried by a medial portion ofthe insulator, said insulator having a cavity in each of its ends, arigid arm extending transversely to the insulator for supporting a fuseunit, and having an anchoring formation secured in one of said cavities,and a second arm pivotally mounted upon a fixture, said fixture havingan anchoring formation secured in the other cavity, whereby saidpivotally mounted arm is located to support the other end of a fuseunit, said fixture comprising a substantially cylindrical housinglocated in the cavity and having a helical spring located in the housingengaging the end of the housing and acting on said pivotally mountedarm.

5. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with means forsupporting the insulator from a cross arm carried by a medial portion ofthe insulator, said insulator having a cavity in each of its ends, arigid arm extending transversely to the insulator for supporting a fuseunit, and having an anchoring formation secured in one of said cavities,and a second arm pivotally mounted upon `a fixture, said fixture havingan anchoring formation secured in the other cavity, whereby saidpivotally mounted arm is located to support the other end of a fuseunit, said fixture comprisinga substantially cylindrical housing locatedin the cavity and having a helical spring located in the housingengaging the end of the housing and acting on said pivotally mountedarm, and stop means carried by said spring for engaging the oppositeside of said pivotally mounted arm to absorb the shock of movement ofthe arm when a fuse blows.

6. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with means forsupporting the insulator from a cross arm carried by a medial portion ofthe insulator, said insulator having a cavity in each of its ends, arigid arm extending transversely to the insulator for supporting a fuseunit, and having an anchoring formation secured in one of said cavities,and a second arm pivotally mounted upon a fixture, said fixture havingan anchoring formation secured in the other cavity, whereby saidpivotally mounted arm is located to support the other end of a fuseunit, said fixture comprising a substantially cylindrical housinglocated in the cavity and having a helical spring located in the housingengaging the end of the housing and acting on said pivotally mountedarm, and stop'means carried lby said spring for engaging the oppositeside of said pivotallymounted arm to absorb the shock of move ment ofthe arm when .a fuse blows, and stop means carried by said housingengaging an outer portion of said helical spring for holding the springin its housing.

7. vIn a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a pivotedarm assembly, the said insulator having -a substantially cylindricalcav` ity in its end, a spring housing member of substantiallycylindrical shape in said cavity, said spring housing having externalanchoring formations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formationsand the Walls of the cavity to secure the spring housing in the cavity,a fuse tensionq ing lever pivotally mounted upon said spring housingmember and a helical spring located in said spring housing and reactingagainst the end thereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on thepivotaflly mounted arm, said arm being provided at its end with meansfor engaging a fuse unit.

8. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a ,pivotedarm assembly, the said insulator having a substantially cylindricalcavity in its end, a spring housing member of substantially cylindricalYshape in said cavity, said spring housing having external anchoringformations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and thewalls of the cavity to secure thespring housing in the cavity, a fusetensioning lever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member and ahelical spring located in said spring housing and reacting against theend thereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on the pivotallymounted arm, said arm being provided at its end with means for engaginga fuse unit, said spring having an axial extension extending from theend of the spring in said spring housing outwardly in said spring andhaving a laterally turned portion engaging about said lever.

9. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a pivotedarm assembly, the said insulator having a substantially cylindricalcavity in its end, a spring housing member of substantially cylindricalshape in said cavity, said spring housing having external anchoringformations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and theWalls of the cavity to secure the spring housing in the cavity, a fusetensioning lever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member and ahelical spring located in said spring housing and reacting against theend thereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on the pivotallymounted arm, said arm being provided at its end with means for engaginga fuse unit, said spring housing member being provided on its insideWith inwardly extending lugs engaging the coils of the spring adjacentsaid lever to prevent the spring from moving out of said housing.

10. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a pivotedarm assembly, the said insulator having a substantially cylindricalcavity in its end, a spring housing member of substantially cylindricalshape in said cavity, said spring housing having external anchoringformations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and theWalls of the cavity to secure the spring housing in the cavity, a fusetensioning lever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member and ahelical spring located in said spring housing and reacting `against theend thereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on Cil the pivotallymounted arm, said arm being pro- Vided at its end with means forengaging a fuse unit, said spring housing member being provided on itsinside with inwardly extending lugs engaging `the @coils of the springadjacent said lever to prevent the spring from moving out of saidhousing, and Yan axial extension extending from the inner end'of saidspring into engagement with the outer end of said lever so that thespring is compressed to absorb shock when the lever moves outwardlyafpredetermined amount.

i 1l. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator witha pivotedarm assembly, the said insulator having a substantially cylindricalcavity in its end, a spring housing member of substantially cylindricalshape in said cavity, said spring housing having external anchoringformations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and thewalls of the cavity to secure the spring housing in the cavity, a fusetensioning llever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member anda helical spring located in said spring housing and reacting against theend thereof, saidlspring acting at its opposite end on the Apivotallymounted arm, said arm being pro-k vided at -its end with means forengaging a fuse unit, the said spring housing member being provided witha radial flange engaging the end of theinsulator, and with a pair ofoutwardly projecting parallel guide flanges for guiding the lever in itspivotal movement. Y

,712. Inf a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with pivotedarm the said insulator having a substantially cylindrical cavity in itsend, a spring housing member of substantially cylindrical shape in saidcavity, said spring housing having external anchoring formationsthereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and the walls of thecavity7 to secure the spring housing in the cavity, a fuse tensioninglever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member and a helicalspring located in said spring housing and reacting against the endthereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on the pivotally mountedarm, said arm being provided at its end with means for engaging a fuseunit, the said spring housing member being provided with a radial flangeengaging the end of the insulator, and with a pair of outwardlyprojecting parallel guide iianges for guiding the lever in its pivotalmovement, said guide flanges extending backwardly to support a pivot pinfor pivotally mounting said lever, and the said guide flanges beingprovided with an enclosing wall above, behind and below the pivot ofsaid lever for excluding ice accumulations. 13. In a fused cut-out, thecombination of an insulator with a pivoted arm assembly, the saidinsulator having a substantially cylindrical cavity in its end, a springhousing member of substantially cylindrical shape in said cavity, saidspring housing havinor external anchoring formations thereon, cementengaging the anchoring formations and the Walls of the cavity to securethe spring housing in the cavity, a fuse tensioning lever pivotallymounted upon said spring housing member and a helical spring located insaid spring housing and reacting against the end thereof, said springacting at its opposite end on the pivotally mounted arm, said arm beingprovided at its end with means for engaging a fuse unit, the said levercomprising a metal member formed to extend substantially normal to theinsulator and thereafter having an obtuse bend, and a diagonally andupwardly extending elongated end portion for engaging the fuse unit.

14. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a pivotedarm assembly. the said insulator having a substantially cylindricalcavity in its end, a spring housing member of substantially cylindricalshape in said cavity. said spring housing having external anchoringformations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and theWalls of the cavity to secure the spring housing in the cavity, a fusetensioning lever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member and ahelical spring located in said spring housing and reacting against theend thereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on the pivotallymounted arm, said arm being provided at its end With means for engaginga fuse unit, the said lever comprising a metal member provided at itsfree end with a relatively wide integral iiat portion, a U-shaped Wirefitting about said iiat portion'and having diverging ends, said wirebeing soldered to the at portion and forming V-shaped grooves on bothsides ofthe lever for receiving a fuse unit cable.

15. In a fused cut-out, the combination of an insulator with a pivotedarm assembly, the said insulator having a substantially cylindricalcavity in its end, a spring housing member of substantially cylindricalshape in said cavity, said spring housing having external anchoringformations thereon, cement engaging the anchoring formations and thewalls of the cavity to secure the spring housing in the cavity, a fusetensioning lever pivotally mounted upon said spring housing member and ahelical spring located in said spring housing and reacting against the12 end thereof, said spring acting at its opposite end on the pivotallymounted arm, said arm being provided at its end with means for engaginga fuse unit, the said lever comprising a metal member provided at itsfree end with a relatively wide integral flat portion, a U-shaped wiretting about said at portion and having diverging ends, said Wire beingsoldered to the iiat portion and forming V-shaped grooves on both sidesof the lever for receiving a fuse unit cable, the said U-shaped Wirebeing provided at its diverging ends With circular curved end portions,and being further secured to the at portion by a metal band extendingabout the Wire and ilat portion and clamping them together.

LEONARD J. LINDE.

DAVID C. HUBBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,212,633 Bodendieck Aug. 27,1940 2,215,321 Cooley Sept. 17, 1940l 2,272,370 FOX Feb. 10, 19422,324,044 'rrip1ett July 13, 1943 2,324,888 Strobel July 20, 19432,325,555 Steinmayer July 27, 1943 2,354,907 Bennett et al Aug. 1, 19442,376,996 Fox May 29, 1945 2,391,428 Link Dec. 25, 1945 2,442,593 FoxJune 1, 1948

